Theater: Cast is superb in ASP's 'Macbeth'

By Iris FangerFor The Patriot Ledger

Monday

Oct 8, 2018 at 12:09 PM

It is more than passing strange to enter the majestic Sanctuary at the United Parish Church in Brookline for Actors Shakespeare Project’s production of “Macbeth,” a drama about a man who breaks all the rules of morality associated with religion. Under the direction of Dawn M. Simmons, the actors enter down every aisle and from the rear of the playing space that has been curtained off to hide the altar. A white cloth covered chair, later to be stained with blood, sits at center stage as the goal of Macbeth’s desires.

William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” is a play for our time, portraying a man moved by stark ambition to covet power that should not be his. Unlike the Bard’s other tragedies about flawed men, however, Macbeth is stalked by a trio of fantastical creatures - the “weird sisters” - who plant the notion of the prize in his head. He is later riled by the ghosts of his victims, rising from their graves to haunt him.

Actors Shakespeare Project is using a script noted as a “modern verse translation” by Migdalia Cruz in an attempt to make the more archaic parts of the language easier to understand for a contemporary audience. Without reading the new version, it’s difficult to decipher the changes, except to commend many of the actors who “speak the speech” so clearly that there’s no problem following the thoughts of the different characters expressed in the soliloquies.

Simmons has directed the action to flow swiftly, especially in the first act, so that time is compressed. The narrative zips along from Macbeth’s murder of King Duncan, aided by Lady Macbeth, to Macbeth’s accession to the throne, to the murders of his loyal friend, Banquo, and the general, Macduff’s wife and children. The witches are nearly always on stage prodding Macbeth and giving him courage, a switch from the structure of the play, or, at least from other productions. The rap rhythm of the witches’ cauldron scene, embellished by a blues song is highly effective. Ditto for the violence of the battle scenes, which mirror Shakespeare’s observation that, “Blood will have blood.”

Placing the witches at center stage makes us believe that Macbeth acts from their promptings, along with the urgings of his wife, the strong-willed Lady Macbeth. Nael Nacer, cast in the title role, leaves no doubt as to the depth of his yearnings. He needs no outside help in deciding that he must remain king, even if he must eliminate all obstacles in his path.

Well-known for his many roles in Boston area theaters, Nacer delivers a tour-de-force personification of a man on the downward path to ruin, transforming from a loyal soldier to a despot, riven with guilt but gripped by his desires. He is supported by three other accomplished actors: Maurice Parent as Banquo, Ed Hoopman as Macduff, and Steven Barkhimer in a variety of roles, including the sympathetic and kindly King Duncan, and the cynical Porter at the gate. If there’s a quibble about the production, it is in the doubling and tripling by the company of 10 actors as so many different characters. By the second act, it becomes difficult to decipher who is whom as the opposing sides meet in battle.

Although “Macbeth” is clearly a play about war, and the havoc men wreak, Simmons has used a multi-gendered approach to casting, including for the witches. Paige Clark plays Lady Macbeth, strong of will and masculine in the strength and cruelty of her own ambition but when she doubles as the fourth witch, Hecate, it becomes more complicated. One wonders if the director means us to believe that Lady Macbeth is one of the witches, which might explain her fierce goading of Macbeth for the first evil deed, but negates the moving “Out, damn spot” sleep walking scene near the end.

This pageant-like rendition of “Macbeth,” enhanced by so many strong performances, is not to be missed, especially recommended for families ready to introduce their teenagers to Shakespeare. Six student matinees for school groups are already sold out.

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